Naruto Chapter 367

[Assertn]

Does anybody else get the impression that Kishimoto realized the Kabuto-Orochimaru plot twist was incredible bad just a little too late (too late to pull it from the Shonen issue before print that is), and he is now feeding us all of his plot ideas in such a few short chapters to make us forget about that terrible blunder?

I mean, really - what with Tobi revealing his Sharingan, Jiraiya's upcoming fight with Pein, the revealing of Naruto's parents, and the confrontation between Sasuke and Itachi, who really expects Kabuto to make a re-appearance? I'm betting he will never show up again. Besides in a filler episode of the anime.

Which is a good thing really...because it was stupid. Like, a supremely bad idea. Still, it may make a good filler arc.

Nope...I would've sooner considered the roots to be a bad plot twist than Kabutoro, but clearly we'll be seeing more of roots unfold soon so......

The way Kishimoto developed Kabuto was great. For the longest time he's just been sitting in the shadows, but just like so many before him, he's been inspired to change from Naruto's example...except this time it actually backfires on Naruto.

Anyway, a Sasuke vs Kabutoro battle at this point would be almost as elite as the Sasuke vs Itachi battle coming up.

[masamuneehs]

Nope...I would've sooner considered the roots to be a bad plot twist than Kabutoro, but clearly we'll be seeing more of roots unfold soon so......

The way Kishimoto developed Kabuto was great. For the longest time he's just been sitting in the shadows, but just like so many before him, he's been inspired to change from Naruto's example...except this time it actually backfires on Naruto.

The more I think, the more I agree about this. I absolutely love Kabuto's tendency to show up when there's almost zero indication that he will, just when you think the plot is going to go somewhere else, it comes back to him. I never pegged him as that much of a fanatic (his initial reaction to Sasuke's killing Orochimaru left me very unsure if he was even going to retaliate, if he might have been even happy that Oro was dead), but it's clear that he is nuts for Orochimaru to even beyond Kimimaro level.

Unfortunately, with the Hidden Village of Sound destroyed, and the main plotline there gone (Oro training Sasuke to use his body as a host), I'm at a loss to say what Kabuto will do in the future. I never really considered the 'Destruction of Konoha' angle to be that likely or threatening, as it seemed clear that the closest he'd get was when he fought the Third Hokage. Kabuto was pretty vague when he showed up to 'thank' Naruto... But I still am glad he's going to be in the story for at least a little while longer.

Root... I loved them at first simply because I love Sai. Then again, they totally appeared out of nowhere and the 'hardline militarist' can surely offer some major problems in the future (especially since Jiraiya referred to them in his potentially last words to Tsunade). But I'm not compelled by their story at all.

The more I think about Root, the more I think it should have been introduced earlier. I mean, where the fucking hell were they when the Hokage position was temporarily vacated? It just seemed like a sudden idea Kishi had, for Sai to be loyal to someone other than Tsunade and to have his own secret little mission. Maybe he'll make something good out of it, but right now I could care less about Root.

Finally, I'm thinking that if we're considering open storylines, we've got the following (in order of appearance and with how I think they'll go down):

Sasuke's grudge vs. Itachi (Itachi-Sasuke duel, maybe Hebi involved).
Orochimaru (him completely taking over Kabuto's mind and body, dying in a duel with either Naruto or Tsunade, or whoever is Hokage)
Akatsuki's targeting of the Bijuu (Naruto's got to take care of this one by himself, probably with some support from Konoha nin, at least Sakura)
Bringing Sasuke home (the very freaking end)
Root (no idea, depends)

The real question to me is in what order these storylines are going be concluded. I can't help but think that the quickest one to bring to a close is Orochimaru, as it involves killing just one single person, and because a bunch of people can do it.

I feel like Itachi could end soon. I don't think he'll actually fight Sasuke in their much anticipated meeting in Konoha, more likely just reveal more backstory. But soon after that, Sasuke and Hebi could bag him. However, at that point there'd need to be something else for Sasuke to do (possibly created by this upcoming meeting). I don't think Sasuke will overcome this anytime soon, even if he does kill Itachi. If anything, I see Itachi (or his legacy) as being the final Akatsuki to end.

Root might be nothing more than an overblown threat, but I doubt it... I see them as being a way to, at the very end, center the action around Konoha again. Hell, they might become the reason why Sasuke returns. They might even create the next vacancy in the Hokage position.

For some reason, I can't see Akatsuki as being the last storyline left, particularly given the rapid rate of death (granted, the ones that are left are no slouches) and that everyone and their mother in Konoha is coming after them.

[Carnage]

I've been waiting for so long to see what was inside that letter Sai gave to Orochimaru.... it most definitely has to do with roots.

[joker-kun]

Root might be nothing more than an overblown threat, but I doubt it... I see them as being a way to, at the very end, center the action around Konoha again. Hell, they might become the reason why Sasuke returns. They might even create the next vacancy in the Hokage position.

Hope it isn't something lame like Itachi is part of Root and that's why he killed the clan...

[FullMetalAlchemist]

I find it strange how itachi did not fight sasuke in the cave, i believe he is gonna reveal why he really killed the clan in the next meeting. I still think madara had something to do with it, and while itachi tells sasuke everything madara/tobi appears and kills itachi, or something along those lines. Remember how madara talks about sasuke sharingan, he has itachi yet he is looking at sasuke. There might be something special about sasuke not yet revealed and the true meaning of why he was the only uchiha spared.

[Assertn]

Masa you're missing an important item in your list: Tobi / Uchiha Madara.

I see Roots, Kabutoro and Tobi / Uchiha Madara as the 3 main adversaries after the Akatsuki demise.

I like where you're going with "Tsunade or Naruto, whoever is Hokage" vs Kabutoro.
It would be neat of him to become the residual arch nemesis of Naruto that pops up various times throughout the rest of the story and even beyond Naruto becoming Hokage.

[DB_Hunter]

Yea but surely when Naruto becomes Hokage the storyline ends (after all related fighting such as revenge is done and dusted), so I don't think any enemy will survive beyond that point.

Plus, we have Kakashi who could become Hokage before Naruto. The only way I don't see that happening is a) Naruto grows a damn brain and becomes a proper ninja or b) Kakashi doesn't give a shit and thus Naruto becomes Hokage anyway.

[Hikyuu]

Kabutoro.

I think I prefer calling it Kabumaru

[Assertn]

I think I prefer calling it Kabumaru

Well that's unfortunate for you then

[Hikyuu]

Well that's unfortunate for you then

You dont form a name by merging the first parts of their names together.. you have to have like .. a front and a back.. Like KABUmaru :O or orobuto

[UChessmaster]

I didn`t knew there was a rule for merging names...

this is obviously points to jiraiya vs. pein

good thing : we get to see peins abilities

bad things: jiraiya is almost dead.. noooooooo

[Super5]

I'm betting Jiraiya is as dead as a doornail... but it will take a lot of chapters for him to fight his final battle.

Like many other people, I still think Itachi's stated reason for killing his clan was a load of crap. His real reason had to do with whatever was in the temple that he told Sasuke to look for (the Uchiha Shrine). Hopefully, Sasuke and Itachi will just meet to talk instead of fight because it's way too early for an Itachi-Sasuke showdown. Instead, I believe Kishimoto will reveal everything about the Uchiha clan.

I can sympathize with Masa, there are way too many open plot threads right now. Roots seems like an afterthought on Kishi's part - what were they doing when Konoha had no hokage and they're low on ninja's??? They could have staged a coup and taken over easily. I have no idea where the Kabuto/Oro plot could be going, but how about this: he teams up with Root to take over Konoha and install a new hokage. Tsunade and Kakashi die in the battle, and Naruto becomes the leader of Konoha-in-exile. But that's pretty far out there...

Anyway, Kishi needs to do a little clean-up IMO.

[Idealistic]

I'm betting Jiraiya is as dead as a doornail... but it will take a lot of chapters for him to fight his final battle.

That's what I was hoping for with Oro too... But noooo Kishi went another route which I didn't really like.

But I still believe Oro is alive and will come back.

[Assertn]

Anyway, Kishi needs to do a little clean-up IMO.

Yeah when was the last time Kishi closed any open plot holes anyway? oh wait...

Also....it looked like UChessmaster said "we get to see penis abilities"

[FullMetalAlchemist]

Like many other people, I still think Itachi's stated reason for killing his clan was a load of crap. His real reason had to do with whatever was in the temple that he told Sasuke to look for (the Uchiha Shrine). Hopefully, Sasuke and Itachi will just meet to talk instead of fight because it's way too early for an Itachi-Sasuke showdown. Instead, I believe Kishimoto will reveal everything about the Uchiha clan.

.

I've been really thinking about this to and kinda thought of something in that regard. Remember how the clan had something special going on a mission of some sort, and even some meetings that itachi was apart of and seemed very important to the clan which they were relying on itachi alot on, maybe that had something to do with him killing the whole clan.

funny how these last couple chapters have really opened the possibilities on the show that we didn't even think of 6 months ago .